MIKESCARINFO DAILY CAR NEWS Saturday, April 5, 2026

MikesCarInfo Daily Car News - April 5, 2026

MIKESCARINFO DAILY CAR NEWS

Saturday, April 5, 2026

New Car Launches & Reveals

Hyundai Boulder Concept Steals the NY Auto Show

Hyundai revealed its body-on-frame off-roader and midsize pickup concept at NYIAS. It's not a Toyota, Ford, or Jeep — and that's exactly why it's turning heads.

Gear Patrol →
2026 Mazda CX-5 First Drive: Overwhelmingly Positive

The redesigned CX-5 earns strong early reviews — functional, practical, and still genuinely fun to drive. Mazda nailed this update.

The Drive →
Porsche Cayenne Electric First Drive: Up to 1,139 HP

The electric Cayenne ranges from a 435 hp base to a 1,139 hp Turbo. Early reviews call it a flawless driving experience that exceeds expectations.

The Drive →
2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Gets Hurricane 4 Engine

The new turbo four-cylinder is quick but reviewers note some lag. An interesting and potentially polarizing direction for Jeep's flagship.

The Drive →
2026 Subaru Uncharted EV Starts at $36,445

Subaru's new EV is well-engineered and smartly priced, though AWD isn't available on the base trim. A solid entry-level electric option.

The Drive →
2026 Toyota C-HR: A Fun Entry-Level EV

Toyota positioned the C-HR as the antidote to boring affordable EVs, prioritizing performance and styling over pure utility.

The Drive →
2026 Audi Q3 Fully Redesigned — Starts Under $40K

The all-new Q3 finally lives up to the four rings with extensive interior, tech, and design upgrades across the board.

Edmunds →
Lexus ES EV Undercuts Its Own Hybrid by $2K

The electric ES starts at $48,795 vs. $50,995 for the hybrid. A rare move that signals aggressive EV pricing from Lexus.

Kelley Blue Book →
Genesis Commits to 22 New US Models by 2030

Including a special edition GV70. Genesis is doubling down on the US market with an aggressive product expansion plan.

Autoblog →

Pricing & Market Trends

Average New Car Price Hits $49,353

Up 3.4% year-over-year. Sticker prices have topped $50K for 11 straight months, but discounts are rising to 6.9% of transaction price.

CarEdge →
EV Prices Dropping While Incentives Surge

Average EV transaction price fell 1.4% to $55,300. Dealers are discounting EVs at 14.2% of transaction price to move inventory.

CarEdge →
Import Tariffs Now Active at 15%

Tariffs on European, Japanese, and Korean vehicles took effect April 3. Audi already raised prices $800–$4,100 across its lineup.

CarEdge →
Q1 US Auto Sales Down 7% Year-Over-Year

Consumers front-loaded purchases before tariffs. Cox Automotive expects the softness to continue through 2026.

CarBuzz →
Stellantis Halts Jeep Production in Mexico

Jeep Compass and Wagoneer S production paused at the Toluca plant since April 7 due to tariff-driven cost pressures.

Edmunds →

New Car Technology

5-Minute Full-Charge Solid-State Battery Unveiled

Donut Lab showed a solid-state EV battery at CES 2026 that charges to 100% in five minutes and retains 99% capacity after 100,000 cycles.

Modified Rides →
Sodium-Ion Batteries Reach Mass Production

CATL and Changan launched the first mass-produced sodium-ion EV. Energy density now matches lithium iron phosphate at 175 Wh/kg, with 11-minute charging and 450 km range.

Electrek →
Mercedes Steer-by-Wire Coming to the EQS

The facelifted EQS will be the first German production car with steer-by-wire and a yoke steering wheel. No mechanical link between wheel and tires.

Source →
Rivian Planning "Eyes-Off" Highway Driving for 2026

Hands-free driving where you can look away from the road, limited to certain highways and conditions. A meaningful step beyond current Level 2 systems.

BodyShop Business →
EVs Sweep All 2026 World Car Awards

BMW iX3 Neue Klasse won World Car of the Year and World EV. First time electric vehicles took every single award category.

CleanTechnica →
Mobileye EyeQ6H Entering Mass-Market Vehicles

A major automaker will deploy 19+ million Mobileye Surround ADAS units, consolidating lane centering, adaptive cruise, and traffic jam assist into one unified platform.

Mobileye →
Toyota Targeting 1,000 km Range with Solid-State Battery

Toyota's first solid-state battery promises 20% more range and 10-minute charges from 10-80%. Limited production expected between 2026-2028.

CarsGuide →

Key Takeaways

  1. EV pricing is getting aggressive. When the Lexus ES EV undercuts its own hybrid and average EV discounts hit 14.2%, the market is clearly shifting. If you've been on the fence about going electric, the deals have never been better.
  2. Tariffs are already moving prices. The 15% import duties took effect April 3 and Audi was the first to pass costs to buyers. Expect more brands to follow. If you're eyeing a European or Japanese import, the price you see today may not last.
  3. Battery tech is leaping forward. Five-minute solid-state charging, sodium-ion reaching mass production, and 1,000 km range targets — these aren't distant promises anymore. The next generation of EVs will look very different from what's on lots today.
MikesCarInfo Daily Car News — April 5, 2026

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